Nelson Mandela

WEEK 2 TERM 4 - READING ACTIVITIES FOR ALL READING GROUPS

Read the story below and then do the activities based on the story.

WALT: We are learning to write reviews of stories we read. SUCCESS CRITERIA: I am able to write a story review using sub titles.

A Look at Nelson Mandela's Life

Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela was born on July 18, 1918 on the eastern coast of Africa in Mvezo. When his father died when Nelson was nine, he was raised by royalty. As a result, he was the first person in his family to attend school. Later on in his young adulthood, he became an activist with the African National Congress. Knowing the power of young people, he started the African National Congress Youth League.

Mandela began actively participating in politics in his thirties, when he led the Defiance Campaign in 1952 and the 1955 Congress of the People. His campaigning soon hit a brick wall in 1956, when he was charged with high treason against the government, along with 155 other activists. He, along with the rest of the activists, were later acquitted.

Apartheid was growing stronger, and new laws were passed with which told blacks where they were allowed to live and work. Mandela tried to fight back, coordinating sabotage campaigns against military and government targets and planning a possible guerrilla war. He claimed he hope to bring down the oppressive government and rebuild the country based on democracy, freedom, and above all, equality.

So committed to equality, Mandela said at the time: "It is an ideal which I hope to live for and to achieve. But if needs be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die."

Nelson was arrested in 1962 after being on the run for 17 months. He was charged with sabotage and attempting to violently overthrow the government and sentenced to life in prison on Robben Island in South Africa.

While he and other leaders of the African National Congress (ANC) were in jail, young South Africans continued to rebel against the apartheid government. It wasn’t until 1990 that change finally came to South Africa.

The ban against the ANC was lifted, Mandela was released after 27 years of being imprisoned, and talks to form a multi-racial democracy were set to begin. Three years later, Mandela was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his work to end apartheid. Months after that he was elected president.

Since he stepped down as president in 1999, Nelson Mandela has been dedicated to ending global poverty and helping to resolve wars and conflicts throughout Africa.

Human Rights [1]

Free Speech [2]

Voting [3]

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Source URL: http://www.dosomething.org/tipsandtools/a-look-nelson-mandelas-life

Links:

[1] http://www.dosomething.org/cause/human-rights

[2] http://www.dosomething.org/issues/free-speech

[3] http://www.dosomething.org/issues/voting

Activity 1 -  Reading Response

Read this article and then answer these questions

1. When was Nelson Mandela born?

July 18 1918

2. Where was Nelson Mandela born?

Mvezo South Africa

3.  Name the organisation he stated as a young adult?

He was an activist for the National Congress  

4. When did Nelson Mandela lead the Defiance campaign?

1955 was the year he lead the Defiance Campaign

5. When was Nelson Mandela arrested and put in jail?

1999

6. Where was the jail?

Robin island

7. How long was Nelson Mandela in prison for?

He was in prison for 27 years

8.  What was Nelson Mandela awarded with ?

Nobel Peace Prize

9. What was that award for?

For his work to end apartheid

10.  When did Nelson Mandela step down as the president of South Africa? After he came out of prison.

Activity 2 - Story Review

In a story review, you need to write about  the plot, setting and the characters.

Write a review of this story. It was fun taking a look at Nelson Mandela’s life.   

Activity 3 - Blog

Once your story review is complete, edit it and have it checked by your teacher/ teacher aide and then put it up on your Blog.